When Li Chuyun asked who were the famous people around Kaifeng Prefecture, Li Liangshi said that Wang Pu, Wei Renpu, Li Gu and others were all famous people.
But Li Chuyun had no interest in these high-ranking officials. Because even if they were knowledgeable, they would not speak from the heart to a military commander, because their positions were different and it would involve too much.
Li Liangshi introduced several famous scholars. Li Chuyun only met them once and did not want to meet them again. These people either quoted classics and talked about them, or were well versed in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. When Li Chuyun was in Guanzhong, he liked to make friends with famous scholars. He met many of them and knew what they were good at after just a few words.
Seeing that the lord was not satisfied, Liang Shi was also in a dilemma. He pondered and said: The person the lord wants cannot be someone who is not well-read. He must be well-versed in classics and history to understand the truth. It is probably not enough to be knowledgeable. He must be familiar with the officialdom and battlefield to understand the truth. He must also be knowledgeable and have traveled around the world to understand the truth. If a person with such qualifications is naturally intelligent, he will definitely have insights.
Li Chuyun nodded after hearing this. He felt that Li Liangshi had said a lot over the years, but these were the words he agreed with the most.
But there is one more requirement. There are thousands of principles in the world, and those principles must be exactly what Li Chuyun needs, and they must be consistent with his ideas. For example, if someone talks about the benefits of civil officials governing the country and bringing peace to the world in front of Li Chuyun, even if he says something very exaggerated, will Li Chuyun be satisfied
Hey, Liangshi suddenly said, I remembered someone.
Because he had just raised many difficult requests, and then he mentioned one person, Li Chuyun immediately became interested. Unexpectedly, Liang Shi frowned again and said:
Li Chuyun asked: But what
Liang Shi said in a deep voice: But this man used to be the aide of the rebel general Li Yun.
Oh, Li Chuyun recalled for a moment, you mean Zhongli
Li Liangshi was surprised and said: My Lord knows this person
Li Chuyun nodded and said: I have heard a little bit about it. Although I am a soldier, I liked to make friends with scholars when I was young, and I wanted to be a Confucian general. It's a pity that he touched his beard seriously, spread his sleeves and looked down at his tall and burly figure.
Liang Shi almost laughed out loud when he saw his actions. Because Li Chuyun looked like a combination of Guan Gong and Zhang Fei, but he said he wanted to be a Confucian general.
Liang Shi blushed, stared at Li Chuyun, and spoke after a long while: "It is not clear what Zhongli's origins are. I heard that he once lived in seclusion in Mount Zhongnan, and gained some fame. Later, Li Yun heard of his great name and invited him to be his staff. He was quite reliable. This man was well-read in classics and history, and traveled around as a Taoist priest. He served under Li Yun for many years. It is said that he is proficient in the Book of Changes and can tell fortunes. It's a pity that a pearl was thrown away in the dark.
Li Chuyun said: "That's fine. It's true that this man was an important staff member of Li Yun, but he had repeatedly used divination to dissuade Li Yun from rebellion. When he was caught, I read his interrogation, so after Li Yun died, he was released. I just don't know what his experience is, and where he is.
Liang Shi said: He was arrested and taken to Tokyo, but was later released. He settled down in Tokyo. The last time I saw him, he was selling mutton offal in the East Market. It seemed that he had never married and had no children.
Li Chuyun:
Li Chuyun pondered for a moment and said: After the Palace Front Office is dismissed, I will be free anyway, so it doesn't hurt to meet you. You can make the arrangements.
Liang Shi clasped his fists and said: Yes, sir.
Unexpectedly, the next day, Li Chuyun had just returned from the imperial city and heard from Liang Shi that Zhong Li refused to meet him. Liang Shi even cursed him, saying that he was old and childless and didn't want to bother with anything anymore. He had fallen to the point of selling mutton offal. If he could be favored by the lord, he would be able to enjoy a life of luxury.
Li Chuyun was a little surprised at first, but soon said calmly: It's not surprising, writers with some talent always put on airs.
Li Liangshi said: "My lord, you are right. I guess he wants me to go and ask you personally."
Ask someone to prepare the car, Li Chuyun said.
My lord, it is not clear whether this person has real talent and knowledge.
Li Chuyun stroked his thick beard and said with a smile: If you think he has no talent, why would I meet him? If you want to meet him, why don't you have any sincerity
After hearing this, Li Liangshi bowed in admiration.
A group of attendants wearing cloth and not wearing armor protected Li Chuyun's carriage, and they went to the East Market to find Zhong Li.
As we approached the East Market, the roads became more and more congested. Tokyo had not suffered from war for many years, and the market was becoming more prosperous, but the roads were not wide enough. However, people saw this congestion as a sign of the prosperity of the Tempyo period, which meant an increase in population.
Zhongli's shop was right there. Li Liangshi pointed to a tattered flag in the distance.
The carriage stopped in front of the shop, but unexpectedly, shouting and cursing were heard immediately. Because Li Chuyun did not bring any ceremonial objects, others did not recognize him as the famous founding duke, so they stopped the carriage on the road, blocking it.
The guard was angry and pointed at the noisy people behind him and cursed. But Li Chuyun was calm and said: "You guys, take the carriages and horses away and wait in a less crowded place."
Li Chuyun was indeed not angry. If he was young, he would care more about whether others respected him or not, because he lacked status, and the more he lacked it, the more he cared about it. But when he really had something, he didn't care so much about it.
At this moment, the sound of a piano came from the shop. Li Chuyun was very surprised. He couldn't imagine that in such a noisy and commercial place, someone would be willing to play the piano.
He listened for a while, then walked into the simple shop. The sound of the zither stopped abruptly, and a gray-haired elder put his hands on the strings of the zither, saying: "Sir, would you like some mutton offal soup?"
Li Chuyun looked back and said: Six bowls, please.
A teenage waiter came up happily, wiped the bench diligently a few times and said: Please take a seat.
Li Chuyun was not interested in the waiter. When he saw Zhong Li, he went to serve soup. Li Chuyun was a little bored, so he started to chat with the waiter: You work very hard and greet people very warmly, why are there no other customers
The waiter wanted to say something but stopped.
At this time, the elder came over with a bowl and said: Because it is so disgusting, even I don’t want to eat it.
Li Chuyun smiled and said: You come here to eat if you want.
The elder shook his head and said: I made the soup with all my heart, but unfortunately I am not good at it, I feel helpless.
Li Chuyun looked at him. The old man had flowing hair and beard and wore long clothes. He didn't look like a cook at all. Li Chuyun thought about the purpose of the piano music just now. Zhong Li might have played the piano because he saw him coming. Otherwise, who would he play for in such a place
Li Liangshi first approached Zhongli in the name of the founding duke. Zhongli thought he was a reckless man and wanted to see if he could have a conversation.
Li Chuyun pondered for a moment and said: I just heard the Guangling San, which was played by Ji Kang at his deathbed, so it is called his last song. But the person playing it today lacks that tragic and majestic feeling. Guangling San played like this is no longer Guangling San.
Yi Zhongli's interest suddenly increased a little. The guest knows music.
Li Chuyun stroked his beard and said with a smile: I am a unique person, but I also know a little about the world, so that when I meet a soulmate, I will have someone to talk to.
The guest is really interesting. When he came to the mutton offal shop, he didn't complain about the soup, but he complained about the piano. Zhong Li smiled and looked at Li Chuyun.
Li Chuyun also replied: Wouldn't it be more interesting for you, old sir, to do business in the East Market instead of doing business and playing the piano
Hahaha, the two of them raised their heads and laughed. Zhong Li finished laughing and said: "Interesting, interesting. Sir, you think I opened a shop here like Jiang Taigong fishing, and those who are willing to take the bait will take the bait."
Li Chuyun pondered for a moment and said: I think the old gentleman is not interested in wine.
Zhong Lidao: Why
Li Chuyun said: "The drunkard is not drunk with wine, but with the mountains and rivers. Taigong is not fishing for fish, but for King Wen. How can I be caught by him?"
Hahaha, the two of them looked at each other and laughed again.
The two of them laughed after a few words, and they fell forward and backward with laughter. The waiter looked innocent and stood by, looking at them blankly. Li Liangshi was smiling, but it might be a smile for him. It is possible that Li Liangshi, the strategist, did not fully understand what was said.
Li Chuyun refuted Taigong's fishing and said that he could not be fished, meaning that he did not have the ambition of King Wen of Zhou.
He also understood what Zhongli meant: If you have the ambition of King Wen, then I won't play with you. Because it's just a waste of time and will hurt others and yourself.
The world has been through wars for a long time, and the people have suffered. The trend of unification has taken shape. It is not good for the people to stir up civil wars. The general trend is no longer there, and it is no longer the time to compete for the Central Plains. The emperor has recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun and unified the world. He has been generous to his meritorious officials for his civil and military achievements. If he has any second thoughts, he is disloyal and unrighteous. In Li Chuyun's situation, firstly, he cannot succeed, and secondly, there is no need at all, because he already has a lot.
Li Chuyun also fully agreed with Zhongli's attitude. He just wanted to keep what he had and had no other thoughts.
Interesting, interesting. Li Chuyun followed Zhongli's words. Li Chuyun was a duke of the state, and his family was prominent. He hadn't chosen yet, but the old man selling mutton offal picked himself first.
Zhong Li said: It is interesting, but I am not telling the truth. I am not good at everything. Sir, I am not good at making this mutton offal soup.
Li Chuyun nodded and said: "The East Market is noisy and bustling. I would like to ask you to go to a quieter place to talk. How about that?"
Zhong Li pondered and said:
Li Chuyun looked at the shop with great interest. He looked down and out. This old man had no home and seemed to have no money. Why was he so picky
Li Chuyun then said: "I have heard that great hermits hide in the city. You are really a great hermit." This statement was actually ironic.
Zhong Li shook his head and said: I do want to hide in the mountains, but you should know that it is easier to survive in the market. I don’t have the physical strength at my age, and I’m afraid it will be difficult to live in the mountains.
This is the truth. Li Chuyun nodded and said, since the old gentleman is honest, he should know a more convenient way to live than the market. Why don't you want to
Zhong Li simply said: Let me tell you the divination first.
After hearing this, Li Chuyun was confused about what was going on and what it meant, so he asked: How to tell fortunes
Zhong Li smiled and said: Anything can be used for divination, but what I like best is burning tortoise shells.